"Your Blood Demon Art is related to shadows."
Natsuki smiled and reminded her.
Guren nodded.
After becoming a demon, she automatically understood what a demon was and what a Blood Demon Art was.
She had also seen the Blood Demon Arts of Konan, Yahiko, and the others.
The fact that her Blood Demon Art was related to shadows was somewhat unexpected to her.
Personally, she preferred Yahiko's Blood Demon Art: Ice Crystals.
It shared similarities with her Crystal Release.
"Work hard."
Natsuki patted her head, then turned and left.
Guren was young and lacked strength. The most important thing for her now was to become stronger.
Only when she grew up could she be of help.
Natsuki returned to Konoha.
With Guren becoming a demon, the number of the Twelve Kizuki reached nine.
Only the last three remained.
The next step was to wait.
Another week passed, and Natsuki learned the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, successfully unlocking a new ability.
[Congratulations to the host for unlocking Angra Mainyu template Ability 3: All the World's Evils]
The Bringer-of-Darkness Technique was an A-rank genjutsu and extremely difficult, so it took quite a bit of time.
The effect of All the World's Evils was to inflict mental corruption on the target, causing their personality to invert.
This ability was quite useful in a certain sense.
The only problem was that if the target's willpower was too strong, they couldn't be corrupted.
A target range immediately appeared in Natsuki's mind.
That was the group of ninjas whose strength lay below the Elite Jonin level.
Especially the young ones.
Inexperienced youngsters often didn't possess strong willpower.
Thinking of this, Natsuki's mind became very active.
He could make geniuses from other hidden villages fall into depravity.
Natsuki ran through the options in his head and found it a pity.
Because in his memory, the geniuses of other hidden villages at this time were either very young or hadn't been born yet.
For example, people like Terumi Mei.
Natsuki shook his head and stopped thinking about it.
Time reached June.
While training in the Senju clan compound, Natsuki suddenly paused.
A line of text floated before his eyes.
[Congratulations to the host for unlocking Jiraiya template Ability 5: Sage Mode]
Natsuki was slightly taken aback, followed by a pleasant surprise.
The unlock condition for the Jiraiya template's Sage Mode was for Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato to possess Jonin-level strength.
Unlocking it now meant that Nagato finally possessed Jonin-level strength.
Natsuki guessed he had mastered the Deva Path's abilities, such as Shinra Tensei or Bansho Ten'in.
Mastering either one would grant him Jonin-level strength.
Unlike Nagato in the original work, his legs hadn't been destroyed by Hanzo, so he didn't need the Six Paths of Pain.
Natsuki stood in place, digesting the Jiraiya template's Sage Mode.
As expected, it inherited the flaw of Jiraiya's Sage Mode, which was a limited duration.
If he wanted to use it in combat, he would have to summon the Two Great Toad Sages of Mount Myoboku, Fukasaku and Shima, to assist him.
But Natsuki wasn't a contractor of Mount Myoboku, so he couldn't summon them.
Then there was only one method left.
Learn the Ryuchi Cave's Sage Mode and summon the three Snake Princesses to assist him.
[Congratulations to the host for unlocking Unohana Retsu template Ability 3: Minazuki — Shikai]
[Congratulations to the host for unlocking Unohana Retsu template Ability 4: Minazuki — Bankai]
It's here!
Natsuki's spirit was instantly lifted.
The unlock condition for Minazuki: Shikai was one Jonin student who inherited flight and healing abilities.
Nagato met this condition.
The unlock condition for Minazuki: Bankai was one Jonin student who inherited swordsmanship.
Both Nagato and Yahiko met this condition.
Natsuki let out a breath.
He informed Nawaki and the others, then opened an Air Door and arrived near the Forest of Death.
Natsuki took out Minazuki.
Shikai!
Minazuki immediately flew from his hand as if it were a living creature.
In mid-air, the blade vibrated, and flesh and blood abruptly grew out.
A moment later, it turned into a giant, one-eyed manta ray.
Its size was massive.
Natsuki estimated its width to be five meters.
Including its wings, it could reach ten meters.
Natsuki leaped up and stood on its back.
Its back was like a large disc. Seating ten people would be no problem.
"Fly."
Natsuki commanded.
The giant manta ray immediately spread its wings and flew into the sky.
It stopped ascending after reaching a height of three hundred meters.
"Fly at maximum speed."
Natsuki instructed again.
The giant manta ray immediately accelerated, drifting into the distance like a gust of wind.
Natsuki raised an eyebrow, feeling the oncoming gale blowing his hair and clothes backward.
He immediately used the Kikyo template's Defensive Barrier.
The barrier expanded, instantly blocking the wind.
Natsuki nodded slightly.
The speed was very fast. At full speed, it was comparable to an ordinary Jonin.
It was quite good for traveling.
Moreover, its back was very large and stable. He couldn't feel any turbulence while on it.
While traveling, he could even sleep and eat on it.
The only pity was that Natsuki already had the Door-Door Fruit.
If he really needed to travel, the Door-Door Fruit was naturally more convenient.
If he was going out to play with Uzumaki Kushina, Yakushi Nonou, and the others, he could use the giant manta ray to enjoy the scenery.
"Go back."
After experiencing it, Natsuki said.
The giant manta ray immediately stopped, turned around, and returned to the vicinity of the Forest of Death.
"Wait for me a moment."
Natsuki used electromagnetic wave sensing and immediately discovered a wild bird not far away.
He leaped up and grabbed it.
The wild bird struggled desperately in his hand.
Natsuki applied a little force, damaging its internal organs.
He looked at the giant manta ray and said. "Heal it."
Natsuki threw the wild bird in his hand.
The giant manta ray immediately opened its mouth and swallowed the wild bird into its stomach.
A moment later, it opened its mouth again, and the wild bird instantly flew out, escaping without a trace.
Natsuki shook his head.
The only bad part was that the target being healed had to be swallowed into the giant manta ray's stomach.
He definitely wouldn't be willing to do that.
Just thinking about it was hard to accept.
But fortunately, he now knew quite a few medical ninjutsu as well.
Unless absolutely necessary, there was no need to use the giant manta ray's healing ability.
Natsuki extended his hand, and the giant manta ray reverted back into Minazuki.
He took a deep breath and used Bankai.
In an instant, he felt the area around him completely darken.
Countless amounts of blood poured down from the sky, looking exceptionally eerie.
At the same time, Minazuki's snow-white blade was also dyed red, turning into a blood blade.
With a thought from Natsuki, Minazuki rapidly bent, turning into a spring.
With another thought, the spring returned to normal, and the blood blade continuously extended.
In this regard, it was the same as Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword.
Minazuki!
Natsuki slashed at the nearest tree.
This tree was instantly sliced in half at the trunk. At the same time, from the cut, it was rapidly corroded and dissolved, turning into ash.
"Truly excellent."
Natsuki deactivated Bankai, and Minazuki returned to normal.
He casually placed it into the Unlimited Blade Works alternate dimension.
Natsuki stood in place, pondered for a moment, and quickly made a decision.
Since he had already unlocked the Jiraiya template's Sage Mode, there was no need to waste time. He could just go directly to the Ryuchi Cave.
Natsuki thought for a moment and decided to go alone.
Nawaki was also a contractor of the Ryuchi Cave.
Under normal circumstances, he could take him along to participate in the Ryuchi Cave's Sage Mode trial.
But if he brought Nawaki, he was worried he wouldn't be able to take care of him.
After all, this time going to the Ryuchi Cave, he also planned to transform the three Snake Princesses into demons, which was destined to lead to conflict.
After the three Snake Princesses were transformed into demons, taking Nawaki there would be much safer.
Even if his Sage Mode training failed, the three Snake Princesses wouldn't dare to kill him.
Natsuki arrived at Orochimaru's residence.
Ever since the Second Great Ninja War ended, Orochimaru had been conducting Wood Release experiments.
This led to Tsunade becoming the Jonin instructor for Natsuki, Nawaki, and Yakushi Nonou.
However, after leading them for a while, Tsunade also became lazy and let the three of them go on missions by themselves.
Natsuki, Nawaki, and the others would come to visit Orochimaru during holidays.
Normally, they wouldn't come over unless there was a specific reason.
After all, it would disturb him.
"Teacher."
Natsuki knocked on the door and walked in.
"Wait a moment."
Orochimaru said without turning his head.
Natsuki looked at him.
He was wearing gloves and conducting an experiment.
In front of him was an experimental table, and on the table was an unconscious gorilla.
Natsuki thought to himself, this really isn't Orochimaru's style.
If it were the Orochimaru from the original work, he would definitely use a live human.
"Why are you here?"
Orochimaru took off his gloves and asked.
"I want to make a trip to the Ryuchi Cave."
Natsuki explained. "I don't have much going on recently, so I want to test if I have the talent to learn Sage Mode."
"It's indeed worth a try."
Orochimaru remembered Jiraiya showing off to him before about Namikaze Minato having the talent to learn Sage Mode.
If Natsuki also had the talent, he could turn the tables.
"I'll go with you."
Orochimaru said casually. "Going directly to the Ryuchi Cave is too far. The best way is to have them use the Reverse Summoning Jutsu to summon us."
After saying that, he bit his thumb, slammed it onto the ground, and summoned a small white snake.
"Go find Iwahebi and have him use the Reverse Summoning Jutsu to summon us."
Orochimaru looked at the small white snake and instructed.
With a poof, the small white snake disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Not all snakes can use the Reverse Summoning Jutsu."
Orochimaru explained. "Only the three Snake Princesses and a few giant snakes can."
"I see."
Hearing this, Natsuki wasn't surprised.
After all, the Reverse Summoning Jutsu was already a ninjutsu.
Summoning Beasts that could master ninjutsu were rare to begin with.
"Iwahebi is a giant snake I frequently use. Its strength is not bad."
Orochimaru continued to introduce. "Although it can't compare to Manda, it has a good temper, and summoning it doesn't require sacrifices."
Natsuki thought of the giant snake he summoned in the original work.
It had no name but had gray skin. Perhaps it was Iwahebi.
"Teacher."
Seeing that there was still time, Natsuki asked. "Has there been any progress with the Wood Release experiments?"
"Yes."
Orochimaru didn't hide anything and smiled faintly. "I am already conducting experiments on gorillas. Once successful, I can attempt human experiments."
"For human experiments, I can have the Anbu find some death row inmates from other villages for you."
Natsuki said upon hearing this.
"That's exactly what I was thinking."
Orochimaru nodded and said.
He hadn't turned dark yet, so naturally, he couldn't use ninjas or even infants from his own village for experiments like his counterpart in the original work.
Just as Natsuki was about to speak again, he abruptly sensed an obscure summoning.
He no longer resisted and immediately felt the sensation of passing through an Air Door.
When he opened his eyes again, he was standing in front of a giant snake.
Its skin was indeed gray.
"Lord Orochimaru, long time no see."
Iwahebi took the initiative to speak. "And the new contractor, Lord Natsuki."
Natsuki thought to himself, how polite.
He remembered Uchiha Sasuke's Summoning Beast, Aoda.
As for Manda, every time it appeared, it was incredibly arrogant.
"Let's go."
Orochimaru nodded and said.
Natsuki followed behind him, proceeding through the complex tunnels of the Ryuchi Cave.
Compared to Mount Myoboku and the Shikkotsu Forest, the Ryuchi Cave seemed excessively dark.
"To learn Sage Mode, you must pass the trial of the three Snake Princesses."
Orochimaru said casually. "But whether you can learn it after passing depends on your talent."
"What is the trial of the three Snake Princesses?"
Natsuki remembered that Mount Myoboku and the Shikkotsu Forest didn't have additional trials. One could just start learning directly.
"They use genjutsu to test your willpower."
Orochimaru replied. "With your willpower, passing the trial shouldn't be very difficult."
Willpower?
Natsuki didn't think he had much willpower.
If you gave him dozens of beautiful women, he definitely wouldn't be able to resist.
But fortunately, it was genjutsu.
He had the Kikyo template's Priestess Purification Technique, so he didn't need to worry about genjutsu.
"The new contractor, finally get to see you today. Truly handsome. I bet you taste very good."
A crisp voice suddenly rang out.
A young woman wearing a long white robe descended from the sky.
She had long dark red hair and wore a necklace with three magatama.
"I am Tagitsuhime."
Tagitsuhime licked her lips, looked at Natsuki, and said. "If you fail the trial, I will eat you."
Her tongue was blue, very slender, and forked at the tip.
"Don't scare our new contractor."
Another voice rang out.
Unlike Tagitsuhime, this voice carried a childish tone.
The next second, a young girl appeared.
She wore a long white robe and cyan magatama earrings.
Calling her a young girl wasn't quite accurate. Natsuki felt her height didn't even reach his waist.
She was Ichikishimahime.
A woman who looked more mature than both Tagitsuhime and Ichikishimahime appeared.
She had long green hair and wore a magatama necklace around her neck.
The last of the three Snake Princesses, Tagorihime.
Natsuki swept a glance over them.
All three had very pale skin, even deathly pale.
Making one feel at a glance that they were abnormal.
In fact, it was abnormal, because the three Snake Princesses were all snakes, not humans.
The Three Great Sage Regions of Summoning Beasts all had their own unique senjutsu.
The Ryuchi Cave's senjutsu involved transformation, levitation, invisibility, and so on.
These were also the senjutsu mastered by the White Snake Sage and the three Snake Princesses.
The three Snake Princesses would usually transform into humans to meet the contractors of the Ryuchi Cave.
"Orochimaru."
Tagorihime glanced at Natsuki and asked. "Is the new contractor here to take the trial to learn Sage Mode?"
Orochimaru nodded.
"I will state the rules beforehand."
Tagorihime said expressionlessly. "There are three stages to the trial. Failing any stage means you will be eaten by us."
As she spoke, she raised her hand and pointed not far away.
Natsuki followed her gesture and saw piles of white bones.
"Are you sure you want to participate?"
Tagorihime withdrew her hand and asked.
"You absolutely must participate."
Tagitsuhime blinked and said. "When the time comes, my stage will make you very happy."
"Hmph, he won't last until the final stage."
Ichikishimahime revealed her pink tongue. "I will eat him in the second stage."
"I am sure I want to participate."
Natsuki said in a calm tone.
"Follow me."
Tagorihime turned and walked toward a door not far away.
She walked step by step, her slender waist swaying with snake-like flexibility.
The door was opened.
Tagorihime looked at Natsuki, signaling him to enter.
Natsuki took a look and found that the inside of the door was empty.
He walked in.
His vision blurred, and he felt as if he had walked into a giant castle in a dream.
A massive amount of delicacies were laid out in the middle of the castle.
"Before participating in the trial, you can fill your stomach first."
Tagorihime was quite polite and said. "If you need anything, you can ask me."
Natsuki stepped forward, reached out, and picked up a cake from the table.
He keenly noticed a change in Tagorihime's expression.
Since her appearance, she had been very dignified.
But at this moment, she revealed an expression as if she had seen a delicious meal.
Natsuki raised an eyebrow and used the Priestess Purification Technique.
In an instant, the castle and the delicacies completely vanished.
He was standing in an empty room.
"Congratulations on passing."
Tagorihime frowned slightly but quickly regained her calm.
"Thank you."
Natsuki smiled and said.
Tagorihime turned and walked outward.
"Very good, you didn't disappoint me!"
A smile appeared on Ichikishimahime's small face, looking very happy that Natsuki passed.
But Natsuki knew her supposed innocence was all an act.
She looked like a loli, but she was actually a snake demon who had lived for over a thousand years.
"Follow me."
Ichikishimahime skipped toward another door.
Natsuki followed her.
The door was opened.
Inside was a cave.
Natsuki walked in and found that the walls everywhere were densely packed with small holes.
The door was closed.
Natsuki looked back and found that the door was also densely packed with small holes.
"Fill the small holes with your chakra to pass."
Ichikishimahime's voice rang out.
Hearing this, Natsuki immediately knew what this stage tested: chakra volume.
Ninjas with a small amount of chakra couldn't learn Sage Mode.
Natsuki extended his hand, and a massive amount of chakra poured in.
"So much?"
Ichikishimahime opened her mouth wide and said. "It would be so great if I could eat all this. What a pity."
Natsuki opened the door and walked back out.
"Fantastic!"
Tagitsuhime laughed coquettishly. "I can't wait to eat you!"
She walked up to Natsuki and blew a puff of air.
A fragrant scent assailed his face.
Then, Tagitsuhime leaned in and bit his neck.
Natsuki instantly felt his body grow hot and numb.
It was snake venom.
He had already deduced it.
At the same time, hallucinations appeared before his eyes, as if he saw Uzumaki Kushina, Nawaki, and the others.
But the next second, the genjutsu and venom all disappeared.
"How is this possible?"
Seeing this, Tagitsuhime couldn't help but exclaim in shock.
She had never seen a ninja pass her trial in under three seconds.
Natsuki smiled.
The Priestess Purification Technique helped him dispel the genjutsu.
Poison to Medicine helped him detoxify.
The three trials of the Ryuchi Cave posed absolutely no difficulty for him.
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